Prince Vs Michael Jackson

[craigmatic]

We all know both these guys were great and legends who wrote incredible songs and basically defined the 1980's and early 90's. They say both had the best concerts and live shows. I know this question has been around since the mid 1980's and I'm not downing either one with this but I was wondering who you you think was better or was your preferred artist?
For me I would say it was Prince. I was hooked on his music since I first heard When Doves Cry in the mid 90's. I was an 80's baby who went back and listened to his early stuff. He just sounded so diversified and could play just about any instrument and do any style. The he did the movies everyone says Purple Rain which was this monster album all by itself but I really enjoyed his work on the 1989 Batman soundtrack which made that movie feel bigger than it was. I was sad to hear of his passing because I grew up listening to him. Anyway these are just my thoughts feel free to add your own.

[ciaobaby]

1. I think Prince wins this one.

Partly due to his ability to master so many instruments. He truly did it all. I will always feel lucky to have his music bring back so many wonderful memories of my young adult life.
With Michael, when I hear his music now my memories are of his troubled life.

[craigmatic]

2. I'm inclined to agree with you dude was a genius. He played everything. He's up there in that group

with James Brown and Stevie Wonder. Really both are but in terms of raw musicianship it was always Prince for me.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

3. Prince, hands down. nt

[krawhitham]

9. This

[Beaverhausen]

4. Why?

They were both incredibly talented.

Why compare?

Especially today.

[craigmatic]

6. Because those 2 were the best at what they did and I don't mean any of this in a disrespectful way.

They defined music from my childhood and to me you can't talk about one without at least mentioning the other.

[Beaverhausen]

7. Well we met MJ when he was only ten

I was a fan of his from childhood.

Prince came along later. And I loved him just as much.

Both were the best at what they did.

Sorry I just don't think it appropriate.

But I won't comment further.

[craigmatic]

10. I'm an 80's baby as a matter of fact I'm just as old as Purple Rain.

I didn't meet MJ when he was 10 to me him and Prince were contemporaries of each other and in my mind you can't talk about one without the other.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Both were incredible but Prince takes all the cakes. I saw both live and it's Prince.

Also Prince produced Prince, which means again, it's Prince. Then there's composing all those songs, Prince again. The guitar playing, the bass, Prince again and entirely. Michael was most excellent and certainly takes the dance honors but Prince did many things MJ did not do at all. And Prince was no slouch with the dancing either.
Plus a Prince show was just tight, tight, forget it. Musical. In the moment, present and amazing. Prince had total confidence on the stage, he personally owned and operated the exact and perfect funk.

Love Michael. But It's all about Prince.

[Aerows]

20. Lucky to see him :)

Lord Prince could cram soul, sentiment and sensuality into a song like it was all meant to be there.

Treasure.

[Reter]

8. MJ had way more hits and was on top for longer

So it has to be him.

[Jennylynn]

11. Do you think there would have been a Prince if no MJ?

Hmmmm.

[craigmatic]

13. Probably they were contemporaries. There might not be Prince without James Brown and Stevie Wonder.

[cemaphonic]

25. Also, Sly & the Family Stone and Santana

Prince has always said that those two bands were his biggest direct influence, especially early on.

He definitely copped some of MJ's vocal stylings and dance moves though (and vice versa).

[Aerows]

12. Prince. Man never met an instrument

that he couldn't play like housefire.

[Jennylynn]

14. I had no idea

he could play so many. And he played all instruments on his albums. Amazing.

[Aerows]

18. He did indeed

Phenomenally talented.

[Recursion]

15. Plays 20 instruments on his albums, put together. 1 Double diamond album, 19 platinum, 8 gold

And never called himself "king".

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Different acts. Room for both. I wish people had cared as much for them in life as they

do in death. I'm flabbergasted by the reaction as I was flabbergasted by MJ's. Perhaps it is guilt or a need to make it about oneself, but just three weeks ago, I was teased for "being in love with that 'aging lesbian'"

Same thing happened with John Denver. I was teased mercilessly for loving him.

[tavernier]

17. Prince was a modern day Mozart.

He could visualize a musical score and every note that each instrument would play. He was even one up on Mozart because he himself could actually play all the instruments.
A true musical genius.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. Jackson couldn't read or write music

He mastered the art of pulling a song from his head to put it together.

He was genius too.

[Aerows]

23. He really was.

But Prince - he combined classical, ritual, and funk into one damn song that came together.

The next day, he combined angry heavy metal with smooth jazz and you just have to wonder how in the heck he pulled it all together.

[trueblue2007]

21. MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE KING

[Aerows]

22. Back up the damn truck

Michael Jackson had talent coming out of his ears.

Prince had talent coming out of everything, too.

Lighten up and please don't do this and make it ugly.

Both were fantastic musicians so quit with being awful.

[cemaphonic]

24. Probably biased, since I'm way more of a Prince fan than Jackson, but Prince wins easily for me

MJ was an excellent singer and dancer, and pop entertainer, no doubt. Prince was all of those, but also a monster guitarist/multiinstrumentalist, producer, arranger, songwriter, etc. Just a broader range of talents. More musically diverse too.

[gwheezie]

26. Both

MJ is timeless. I adored him and when my daughter was 8 years old, the 1st album she bought was MJ. A couple of years ago I went to visit my daughter and grandson and my grandson was dancing to MJ videos. All 3 of us, 3 generations dancing to videos of MJ. He was one of a kind.
That being said the best live performance I've ever seen was a Prince show. I have been fortunate enough to see the stones, airplane, Joplin, Hendrix, Nina Simone, the funkadelics, Carmen McCrae, Joe pass, Oscar Peterson, placido domingo, and many, many more and Prince topped them all in just blown away, sexy,electric genius, energy showmanship and talent.
I can't pick between them.

[Duppers]

27. Prince. nt

[phleshdef]

28. Prince was hands down the most broadly talented. Thats not even subjective.

He could play a gazillion instruments. He composed a gazillion songs. He could sing at every range. He could rap. He could dance. Hell, he did splits on roller skates and could come right back up on his feet.

I like Michael Jackson. But Prince could do everything and more.

[GreatGazoo]

29. I worked in the mail room at TV production company and this debate raged

through the mid 80s. Prince vs Jackson.

They are very different acts really. Michael Jackson made great, iconic dance music and did great live shows. Prince started out very edgy and was overtly sexual during the repressive early Reagan years and AIDS panic. He used to open his live show in a bikini and a trenchcoat. A stunning performer who wore out crowds with his energy, repertorie and skills.

I see the influence of James Brown in both of them -- Jackson cleaned it up while Prince played the sexual energy to maximum effect.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. Prince

The Album was my parent's - Controversy.

He was a self made musician whose artistry far surpassed MJ's. My brother and I have had this argument for 30 years and yesterday he finally admitted defeat.

I've seen Prince in concert 18 times and have some of his albums in triplicate meaning - Album, Cassette, and CD - not to mention downloads.

I keep hearing and reading the same songs - mostly from Purple Rain. That wasn't his best.

I think it was Love Sexy.

Best songs -
Anna Stesia
Mountains
Lonely Christmas
The Ladder
When You Were Mine
Love Song (duet with Madonna)
America - Great for Income Inequality warriors

I always fit these into a playlist.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. I like both

They were different in terms of presentation, but both were the same age and generation, and both were driven in terms of crafting their imagery and performances.. (and both were mid-westerners). They both made crossover music that helped to propel them across genres around the world.

MJ could evoke sexuality but Prince would take it to the next level.

Many of us grew up with the Jackson family from the '60s through the '70s before Prince hit the scene but many of us also followed Prince in the '70s, including his self-titled '79 album that came out when I was a senior in HS. I chuckle about how people have locked onto the '80s/'90s stuff, but it was pretty obvious where Prince was going with his album cover. This is the Prince that alot of us knew (provocative)-